Pivoted steering-wheel.



A. C. SINCARE.

PIVOTED STEERING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAMS-1938.

Patented June 4, 1918.

ANTONIO C. SINCARE, F WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIVOTED STEERING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 4, 1918 Application filed January 5, 1918. Serial No. 210,421

To all whom it may concern:

e it'known that I, ANTONIO C. SINCARE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winthrop, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and. useful Improvements in Pivoted Steering-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention relates to improvements in steering wheels for motor vehicles and has for its object to provide a steering wheel which is very neat in appearance, simple in construction but exceedingly strong and durable and capable of being folded against the steering post in such a position as to occupy the-least amount of space possible, thereby providing ample space for the operatorin getting into and out of the operative position of the vehicle and at the same time providing a substantial support to enable the operator to lift himself from the operators seat assist him in getting into said seat.

The invention consists in the combination 25 ,and arrangement of parts set forth in the specification and particularly following pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a steering wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figf 1, illustrating the'wheel rim in full lines in its operative position and in dotted lines in its folded position.

Like numerals refer'to like parts in both views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 1 is the steering post mbodying in its construction a shaft 2 which is rotatably arranged within a tube 3, said shaft extending from the steering mechanism, not shown, upwardly through said tube tothe upper end thereof and secured to said upper end is the steering wheel 4.

The particular novelty of the steering wheel embodying this invention lies in the manner in which the rim, which is preferably an unbroken or -mounted upon the steering post. In carrying out this feature of the invention, a spider 5 is provided, consisting preferably of four spokes 6,7, 8 and 9. Twooof these spokes, that is, the spokes 6 and 7, are formed integral with a collar 10 secured to and] are furthermore formed in two parts when leaving the same and to continuous rim, is

the upper end of the shaft 2. The spokes 6 13 and 14 which are pivotally united or ointed at 11,

11 respectively. The contacting surfaces of said jointed members preferably lie in parallel planes.

The two parts 13 and 14 of each, of said spokes 6 and 7 are pivotally connected tocoinciding,

' disposed at side of and the shaft 2 and tral plane of The other and this median axial line is -a substantial distance to one at right angles to the axis of at a distance below the cenrotation of the rim 15.

two spokes 8 and 9 of the spider 5 do not conform in construction with the spokes 6 an joined together, curved member d 7 andthese spokes are at their inner ends, by a l circle a portion of the upper end of the tube 3 in close proximity to the collar 10.

The portions of the curved member 16 where said member unites with the spokes 8 and 9 are disposed in substanti lel relation, indi ally paralcated at 17 and 18, and projecting from the collar 10 between said parallel sections 17 and 18, at least when the rim is in its normal operative position, is

an enlargement To maintain the rim position with re 15 in its operative spect to the steering post 1,

means are provided preferably consisting of latches 20 and mounted in the from opposite faces of 21 oppositely disposed and enlar ement 19 to protrude said enlargement into engagement with suitably shaped recesses 22 and 23 formed respectively in the parallel portions 17 latches being by means of recess 29 in said Finger pieces spectively with and 18 of said spokes, said operated in opposite directions aspring 24 disposed within a enlargement. 25 and 26 are connected rethe latches 20 and 21 and protrude through a slot 27 to provide for the manual operation of said latches when it is desired to unlock or release the spokes 8 and 9 from the enlargement 19. To move the rim 15 from its operative in full lines, Fi sition thereof, il in said figure, must be drawn of the spring 24 will thereby be cesses ,22 and 23 mitting the rear pressed and the position, as shown g. 2, to the inoperative polustrated by thedotted lines together against the action and said latches 20 and 21 withdrawn from their rein the spokes 8 and 9, perportion of said rim to be deforward or that portion bethe finger pieces 25 and 26 m i messes yond the axis of the pivots of said spokes 6 and 7 to move upwardly, said latter portion serving as a support for the operator when getting into and out of the seat of the vehicle, the lower portion of saidriin being at this time in contact with the under side of the tube 3.

After the operator has regained his seat,

the rim 4 may be moved upwardly by grasp 1 Patent to secure is:

i 1. In combination, a steering post, a shaft rotatably ar 'anged in said post, a collar secured to the upper end of said shaft, a pair of spokes extending radially from said collar, each of said spokes. being formed in two parts pivotally united along parallel planes, the pivots for said spoke parts being arranged with their axes coinciding, a wheel rim secured to the pivotal portions of said spokes, and means for supporting said run "in its operative position relatively to said" steering post.

2. A steering wheel liav-iiig,-in combination, a supporting collar, a pair of spokes disposed radially with respect to said collar, each of said spokes being formed in two parts pivotally united :idjacciitto their outer ends, the contacting faces of the pivotal P01" tions of said spokes being arranged in sub stantially parallel planes, the axes of the pivotsof said spokes substantially coincidiiig, a wheel rim secured to the pivotal section of said spokes, and a second pair of "BEsT AvAiLABLE cos spokes secured to said rim, adapted to ongage said supporting collar and detachably support said rim in its operative position with respect to said shaft.

A steering'wheel having, in combina tion, a supporting collar, a plurality of spokes, two of said spokes being formed iiitegral with said collar and in two parts pivotally united near the outer ends thereof, the axes of the pivots for said spokes coinciding, a 'solid riin secured to the outer ends ofsaid spokes, and means fordetacliably securing the inner portions of the others of said spokes to said supporting collar to maintain said wheel rim in its operative position with respect to said steering wheel.

4. A steering Wheel having, in 'combination, a circularintegi'al rim, a pair ofradially disposed jointed supports for said ri'in,

the inner portions of said supports being fixed, the outer portions of said supports bep .ing secured to said rim and arranged to swing upon said inner portions about a conimoii axis disposed adjacent to said riin, transversely of the axis of said wheel, and 5 means for detachably securing said rim in operative relation to the fixed portions of said supports. 7 a

5. In combination, a shaft, a collar secured I tosaid sliait, a pair of spokes dJSPOSGdIildI- i ally of said collar, the outer extremities of said spokes being pivotally mounted toswing about a common axis, an integral wheel rim 80,

secured to the pivotal portions of said spokes, and second pair of spokes secured to said relation to the shaft.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set nesses. v

ANTONIO O. SINGARE. Witnesses v SYDNEY E. TAr'i, Harris E. S'IRATLON.

' rim and detachably connected with said col lar, adapted to support said run in operative my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 1 i 

